Ethiopian to Demand John Kerry Raise Human Rights Issue

April 26, 2014

Demonstration to demand Secretary Kerry raise Human Rights Violations during his upcoming trip to Ethiopia and to show solidarity for jailed Semayawi (Blue) party members, Zone 9 independent Journalists and all Political Prisoners.

A protest demonstration has called for Monday April 28, 2014 in Washington, DC in front of the State Department ahead of Secretary John Kerry’s scheduled visit to Ethiopia. The protest rally is planned to show our solidarity with detained Semayawi Party members, recently arrested independent journalists and bloggers from Zone 9 group and political prisoners and to urge Secretary Kerry to make human rights and freedom of expression as one of his main topics of discussion during his stay in Addis Ababa.

It’s to be recalled that in the last few days, the TPLF lead Ethiopian regime has arrested over 50 Semayawi ( Blue) Party members ahead of their planned peaceful and legal protest rally on Sunday April 27. The regime is also tightening its suffocating grip on freedom of expression in a major crackdown with the arrest of numerous members from independent blogger and activist group ( Zone 9). With still a year to go before the “general elections”, the regime is tightening the screws on its iron curtain on freedom of speech, opinion and thought.

We urge Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopians in Washington DC metro and surrounding areas to join us to express our outrage at TPLF lead governments spiteful action against peaceful political party members, independent journalists and to demand release of political prisoners and to urge Secretary Kerry to make human rights and freedom of expression as one of his main topics during his upcoming visit to Ethiopia.

For more information contact

Semayawi Support-North America

P.O.Box 75860, Washington, DC 20013

semayawiusa.org

info@semayawiusa.org